An effective snakebite first aid training method for medics in the Chinese troops: a RCT

Area of Science:

• Military Medicine
• Emergency Medical Services
• Toxicology

Background:

• Snakebites pose a significant threat to military personnel globally.
• Inadequate knowledge of snakebite first aid among Chinese military medics is a critical issue.
• This study addresses the gap in proper snakebite management training within the military.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of Standard Operation Procedures (SOP) and checklists in improving snakebite first aid management by Chinese military medics.
• To compare the impact of different training interventions on first aid capabilities.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, single-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted with Chinese military medics.
• Participants were assigned to three groups: textbook learning, SOP/checklist self-learning, or SOP/checklist interactive discussion.
• Snakebite first aid performance was assessed using standardized patients and checklists before and after interventions.

Main Results:

• All intervention groups showed improvement in post-intervention snakebite first aid scores.
• Groups trained with SOPs and checklists (self-learning and interactive) demonstrated significantly higher scores than the textbook group.
• No significant difference was found between the SOP/checklist self-learning and interactive discussion groups.

Conclusions:

• Standard Operation Procedures (SOP) and checklists are effective tools for enhancing snakebite first aid knowledge and skills in military medics.
• Training incorporating SOPs and checklists should be integrated into military medical training programs for improved snakebite care.
• Both self-learning and interactive discussion formats of SOP/checklist training are beneficial.